Bumpus13
Member
I love how some act as if it takes approximately six years to click a safety off. As if that is what will get you killed.
Carry with a round in the chamber?
- Thread starter Jayarby
- Start date
kbm6893
Member
Me too. Somebody show me one case where that happened, and I'll show them 20 where the lack of one got somebody shot.
We all do so many things a day without thinking because it's burned into our muscle memory, flicking a safety is no different. 5 minutes a day drawing and flicking off and it's totally natural. I feel the benefits outweigh the one highly unlikely drawback.
One thing I'll say is to keep the safeties the same type. I used to carry strictly 3rd gen guns. 3913's, 6906's, and CS9's. Also have Beretta's with same type of safety. I still love my Beretta's and 3rd gen guns but they're now range only (well, my house gun is a 5906). When I switched over to Ruger LC9S and the Shield, my thumb would go to flip up the safety to disengage like I was used to in my 3rd gen's. A few weeks of draw and disengage and that's gone.
About three months ago, my alarm went off at about 3 AM. Got the 5906 out of the bedside safe and racked a round in and took safety off(I keep it not chambered with safety on, just as a little extra added protection in case my kids somehow got into the safe. Also don't want hammer back in single action for first shot.). Turned out to be a faulty sensor but as I went to put the gun away I noted the safety was off. Didn't slow me down. I guess it's possible that in a more urgent emergency I might fumble it and wind up dead, but life is about trade-off's and I'm comfortable with my method. I have considered switching out the 5906 for a 5946 I have to remove the safety issue from the equation but it's never been a pressing issue for me so who knows?
Let me jump in and make the water muddier!
The OP has asked a 2 part question:
1) do you carry with a loaded chamber, and
2) if you do, do you use the manual thumb safety.
My approach:
For the first question, YES, when I carry, it is because I don't want to be injured by some miscreant, kinda like when you slide into your car and put on your seat belt, you want to minimize the chance of getting killed plus you want to obey the law. Question: have you ever been in an accident where you've had enough time to put on the seat belt once you knew the accident was imminent?
Second, yes (for me, not necessarily for you). I have owned handguns for about 45 years. For the first 40, I only had a 1911, and later, a 439. For me, use of the thumb safety was ingrained to be second nature, just like putting on your pants with the fly forward.
Within the past 5 years, I have purchased a few striker fired pistols for range/match shooting, and only one was procured with a thumb safety because I intended to use it for CCW, my P365. Sweeping a thumb safety has become second nature for me, because of my prolonged use of the 1911. I have since acquired a G42 which is used in GSSF matches, and may be pocket carried, but only in an appropriate pocket holster with the pistol reholstered OUT of the pocket.
Personally, my recommendation is if you plan to carry a handgun for self-defense and are uncomfortable carrying a semi-auto with a round in the chamber, carry a revolver. Most people train to NOT BE Barney Fife!
The OP has asked a 2 part question:
1) do you carry with a loaded chamber, and
2) if you do, do you use the manual thumb safety.
My approach:
For the first question, YES, when I carry, it is because I don't want to be injured by some miscreant, kinda like when you slide into your car and put on your seat belt, you want to minimize the chance of getting killed plus you want to obey the law. Question: have you ever been in an accident where you've had enough time to put on the seat belt once you knew the accident was imminent?
Second, yes (for me, not necessarily for you). I have owned handguns for about 45 years. For the first 40, I only had a 1911, and later, a 439. For me, use of the thumb safety was ingrained to be second nature, just like putting on your pants with the fly forward.
Within the past 5 years, I have purchased a few striker fired pistols for range/match shooting, and only one was procured with a thumb safety because I intended to use it for CCW, my P365. Sweeping a thumb safety has become second nature for me, because of my prolonged use of the 1911. I have since acquired a G42 which is used in GSSF matches, and may be pocket carried, but only in an appropriate pocket holster with the pistol reholstered OUT of the pocket.
Personally, my recommendation is if you plan to carry a handgun for self-defense and are uncomfortable carrying a semi-auto with a round in the chamber, carry a revolver. Most people train to NOT BE Barney Fife!
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Cal44
Member
My first, and only, semi-auto handgun was a Colt 1911 Gold Cup. I've had it for decades.
Got used to clicking the safety off.
Recently acquired a Sig P238, in part because it works the same as the Gold Cup
It's like a miniature 1911 in 380 auto.
Seems like having a safety, but not using it, also has a problem. If you never use the safety, but somehow it get clicked on, then there would be a long delay figuring out why the gun doesn't fire and getting the safety off.
Better IMHO to use the safety always and always click it off when you start to draw the gun. That way there is no potential for surprises.
It doesn't add much (or even any) delay if you practice flipping off the safety on the draw right after your gun clears the holster and is on the way up to where you are planning to shoot it. Best wait, though, until it's pointing at the ground and not your feet.
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Question from lefty:
May I ask how the fact being left handed dictates existence and usage of thumb safety? Especially in M&P handgun.
kbm6893
Member
I carry safety on with a round chambered, but I think some people don't chamber a round because they don't want to leave the gun with a round chambered while in the safe, and repeatedly chambering rounds can cause bullet setback.
mscampbell2734
Member
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Bottom line any HANDGUN carried for self defense purposes should be carried with a round in the chamber.
If someone is not comfortable with carrying chamber with a certain design/type of weapon then obviously they need to either do what it takes to become comfortable with that design/type, or carry something different.
It really is that simple.
If someone is not comfortable with carrying chamber with a certain design/type of weapon then obviously they need to either do what it takes to become comfortable with that design/type, or carry something different.
It really is that simple.
I support people carrying firearms for self defense. I'm not here to tell them in what condition to carry said handgun. As Grandma Muggins always said, "Not my circus, not my clown car."
And I don't listen to those telling me how to carry mine . . .
And I don't listen to those telling me how to carry mine . . .
AJ
US Veteran
If I am carrying an M1911 in a holster then there is a round in the chamber, hammer cocked and the safety on (Condition 1). If I am carrying concealed it is a revolver and all chambers are charged. In the nightstand the pistol has a loaded magazine in it, but nothing in the chamber (Condition 3).
Jim Watson
Member
Ditto ditto but my bureau drawer special is a DA/SA decocked over a loaded chamber.
AJ
US Veteran
How you carry is your decision. A wise person listens to all the options then decides what is best for them. What is good for one person may not be good for another.
Yes sir! It is prudent to carry with one loaded in the chamber.
If you find you are uncomfortable with this, please do further research and you will see this falls under best practices.
Please also consider getting some competent training so you will be more familiar with your gun and how it works.
Without a round in the chamber, you would be approaching danger with a firearm not ready to fight! We often call this a dead man's gun!
It is good that you are asking the questions and seeking info about your gun. Good for you!
If you find you are uncomfortable with this, please do further research and you will see this falls under best practices.
Please also consider getting some competent training so you will be more familiar with your gun and how it works.
Without a round in the chamber, you would be approaching danger with a firearm not ready to fight! We often call this a dead man's gun!
It is good that you are asking the questions and seeking info about your gun. Good for you!
No safety needed:
I feel it's my constipational right to carry any way I choose. With that being said, everything I carry remains in Condition 1 and I don't own anything with a thumb safety. I dry train constantly, I'm at the range at least once/week. If I need to draw my weapon in a self defense situation (or to defend another), I have no intention of having to take an extra .4 seconds to rack a round and I don't want my thumb to slip off the safety. My life (or yours) may depend on my ability to shoot NOW. With that being said, I hope and pray I NEVER have to draw again in any situation other than training or the range.
Arrow is nocked but bow not drawn when carried.
Draw as it's raised and let loose if necessary.
M59, PPKs, Bobcat and similar actions, round in chamber & safety off.
Draw as it's raised and let loose if necessary.
M59, PPKs, Bobcat and similar actions, round in chamber & safety off.
I carry with the thumb safety off with all pistols that have them.
Have for over 40 years.
Only have 2 now. Both for concealed carry.
Far left pic is 9mm Ez.
Center & right pic is M&P 380.
Have for over 40 years.
Only have 2 now. Both for concealed carry.
Far left pic is 9mm Ez.
Center & right pic is M&P 380.
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